by Steven Felschundneff | steven@claremont-courier.com

Claremont’s path through the Division 2 CIF Southern Section Girls Soccer Championships came to an end Wednesday, with a 1-0 loss in the quarterfinals to Oak Hills in Hesperia.

The Palomares League champion Wolfpack and Mojave River League champion Bulldogs were both very highly ranked, so it’s no surprise the match was close. Oak Hills scored in the first half and held onto that narrow lead to the final buzzer.

The tournament got going last Thursday at CHS when the Pack easily pushed aside Lakewood, 6-0, in the first round.

Claremont wasted little time showing their dominance over Lakewood when sophomore Maddie Coles scored in the first two minutes. Claremont would add two more goals before ten minutes had elapsed, sealing Lakewood’s fate. In all, Coles would get three goals, earning an unofficial MVP title. Other goals came from junior Emily Maass with two, as well as Avery Gonzalez, Natalie Turiace, and Sarah Mahfoud, who each scored once. Goalkeeper Lauren Kunda had six saves, earning the win.

On Saturday, Claremont got another easy victory, blanking Warren, 4-0, at home. On paper the game was supposed to be close, however, Claremont showed its dominance with a 2-0 margin at the half that the girls doubled by the end.

Mahfoud, Coles, Madison Wolden and Sam Healy netted the goals with assists from Gonzalez, Maia Blanchard, Riley Zitar and Turiace. Goalkeeper Kunda kept a clean slate with eight saves.

Claremont finishes the season with a 21-2-1 record, 9-1 in league, and another champion’s banner to hang in the school’s gym.

Fairman takes second in CIF wrestling competition

Senior Brandon Fairman placed second in the 132-pound class last weekend during the CIF wrestling championships at West Torrance High School.

Fairman made it all the way through the bracket, but was pinned in the final match. Still, second place is more than enough to qualify him for the CIF Masters meet this weekend.